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She’d been stabbed by a man called the Shark.
Letting that sink in, she lifted her head off the stiff pillow and saw hospital equipment. An IV pumped fluid into her arm. Then beyond that, another man, seated in a second chair.
Brown smiled at her.
“What’s he doing here?” Her tongue was thick and dry, but he understood.
He got up and moved to her bedside. As he reached for the rolling tray and a pitcher of water, his eyes flicked up at Apollo. “He said he was staying with you. He kept his word.”
He reached for the controls on the side of her bed. “Do you want to sit up?”
“Yes, please.”
He pushed the button. The noise didn’t wake Apollo, which surprised her. He must be exhausted.
She took the cup from Brown and brought the straw to her lips. After she drank a few healthy swallows, she said, “I must have worried you both.”
“That’s true. But it’s part of being your friend. How do you feel?”
“Like I’ve been stabbed.”
“And gone through surgery.”
Her eyes widened. “I forgot they told me that. I was pretty out of it from the shot they gave me for pain in the ambulance.” She shifted on the bed and grimaced.
Brown caught her expression. “Do you want me to call the nurse?”
“Not yet. I want to talk to you.”
A look of worry pinched his brows. “If this is about the sweatshop, Indika—”
“It is. I need to apologize to you.”
“For gettingstabbed?”
She nodded. “I should have been more on guard.”
He sliced his fingers through his hair. “Jesus, Indika. No one would expect an apology for that.”
Their voices must have raised enough to disturb Apollo. His eyes popped open and landed right on her.
He shot to his feet, making the chair thump the wall. “You’re awake.” His voice came out gravelly.
“I am.”
A long heartbeat and a hundred unspoken words flew between them. The moment stretched on. She still couldn’t wrap her head around the fact that he was not only alive but he hadn’t left her side.
Brown cleared his throat. “I’m going to head back to the office. Got plenty of reports to write.”
She reached out a hand, which he took and squeezed. “We’ll finish this conversation later.”
“Not a chance. Case is already closed.” With that, he sent Apollo a nod and was gone.
She gaped at Apollo. “What was that?”
“What was what?” He gathered her hand into his big, warm, enveloping one.
“That silent communication going on between you and Brown just now.”
